Tweehonderdjarige herdenking van het overlijden van G.E. Rumphius 1902 1902

Jacob Jan van Goor made this silver commemorative coin in 1902. Can you imagine holding it, feeling its cool, smooth surface? I imagine the artist carefully carving away at the metal, trying to capture the likeness of G.E. Rumphius. The details are so precise, like the delicate folds of his clothing and the intricate sea shells. Look at Rumphius’s eyes. They convey a sense of curiosity, which I suppose he would have needed to study and document all the natural wonders surrounding him. I'm struck by the textures here: the smooth face contrasting with the rougher background. It reminds me of the ways in which artists build up layers, revealing and concealing, adding depth and complexity. That’s what artists do, right? Engage in a silent conversation across time. We borrow, steal, and transform each other’s ideas, all in pursuit of something beautiful, meaningful, and true. The practice embodies that beautiful ambiguity, that openness to interpretation that makes art so endlessly fascinating.